Dinnington Parish Council

Minutes of the Parish meeting held on

8 th July 2015
Present:
Cllr Raymond Thompson

Chairman

Cllr Mike Wood

Vice Chairman

Cllr Alan Biggins

Cllr Audrey Dellow
Cllr Joyce Porter
Cllr Brenda Scott
Cllr Gill Smith
In Attendance:
Brenda Joyce

Clerk

Cllr Anita Lower

Newcastle City Council (NCC)

Cllr Brian Hunter

Newcastle City Council (NCC)

Cllr I Graham

Newcastle City Council (NCC)

Minute

28.

Action

WELCOME, INTRODUCTIONS AND APOLOGIES

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Parish Council (PC).
Apologies were received from Cllrs Hood, Laidler and Phelps.

29.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllrs Hunter and Lower (NCC) declared an interest as members of the
Newcastle City Council Planning Committee.
PC members were reminded to declare interests at relevant items if necessary.

30.

OPEN FORUM
No representative from Northumbria Police and no members of the public were
present at the meeting.

31.

DONKEY FIELD DEVELOPMENT

The Vice Chairman (VC) advised that the start date on site would probably be
in July. The first work to be carried out would be grouting to the old mine works.
Access to water on a temporary basis would be required and water mains were
situated across main Road and also adjacent to the pavilion changing rooms.
Cllr Lower had asked the contractor to take the water from the latter as this
would avoid issues on Main Road for the 8 week period. NCC were going to
check if there was a sub-lease on the pavilion. This element of the work would
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not affect the water pressure in residents homes.

32.

MEMBERS ITEMS OF CONCERN

32.1

Speeding - with regard to speeding coming into the village the Clerk had
contacted Northumbria Police to ask them to revisit the speeding problems on
March Terrace and Main Road. A reply was awaited.

32.2

Cochrane Terrace Cllr Lower agreed to pass on information to YHN about

untidy gardens.

32.3

Running a business from a residential address Cllr Lower advised that this
could be a breach of contract and could be tackled through YHN, Planning
Control or environmental health.

32.4

Pine flats Cllr Lower said she would report that a gate was hanging off the
wall.

33.

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING AND MATTERS ARISING

33.1

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed as a correct record.

33.2

Matters arising
Minute No 19.1 (17thJune 2015) - Traffic layout near Regent Centre Gosforth
Cllr Lower advised that she had taken this back to the Engineers who were
continuing to monitor the situation.
Minute No 19.2 (17thJune 2015) Speeding
The Clerk had contacted Northumbria police but a reply was still awaited. Cllr
Lower agreed to forward further contact details to enable the Clerk to try
another avenue.

AL/BJ

Minute No 19.3 (17thJune 2015) The Paddock (West end of March Terrace)
The issues with the large permanent structure was with and Legal Department;
it was thought that there were an number of anomalies with the planning
application.
Minute No 19.4 (17thJune 2015) curb stones/Oak Avenue
Cllr Lower reported that an officer had been out to check if anything could be
done to tidy up the pavements in Ash, Oak and Sycamore Avenues.
Minute No 21.1 (17thJune 2015) Sycamore Avenue
Cllr Scott advised that her husband had contacted the local MP. Subsequent
advice was that the YHN Assets and Regeneration Team were looking at
options for the Green and working on drawings. Local residents would be
consulted on the scheme when it was ready
The minutes from March 2015 recorded that, Northumbria Police had been
asked at the last meeting to monitor the situation with regard to inconsiderate
parking at the school. A member stressed that the problems were now getting
worse. CSO Dunn reminded members that causing an obstruction was a police
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matter. The Clerk confirmed that this issue had again been raised in her email
to the Police on 18th June 2015.
Minute No 21.3 (17thJune 2015) Post Office (PO)
The Clerk confirmed that she had emailed the Post Office Counters Contact
Centre to ask if there was any truth behind the rumours of the PO closing but
had not yet received a reply . Cllr Scott said it was possible that the PO could
be interviewing for a replacement Post Master. The Clerk was asked to contact
the Post Office HQ again.

BJ

Minute No 24.2 (17thJune 2015) proposed development at Woolsington Hall

NCC Cllr Hunter stated that the planning application for this development had
not yet been granted. Although officers considered that the local roads in the
area would be capable of taking construction traffic, if planning was granted the
situation would be monitored.
Cllr Lower reiterated that she had objected to the construction traffic on behalf
of residents of Dinnington.
Minute No 121.3 (15thApril
2015)
Grass cuttings the VC had
contacted Mark Lamb (NCC
Horticultural Specialist) again
today to ask about a price for
additional grass cuts in the
village; this would be supplied
next week. The grass had
been cut in a timely fashion
prior to the Northumbria in
Bloom judging last week.

VC

Although the grass on March

Terrace was cut by the
Higways Dept. the VC said he
would pass on a complaint
from a members.
34.

CORRESPONDENCE

34.1

Application for Village Hall funding members of the Village Hall Committee did
not take part in the discussion or decision on this item.
RESOLVED That 4000 grant for the village hall be approved.

34.2

BJ

Notice Board an email had been received from Adam Taegar (NCC
Communities Facilitator) asking if the PC wanted to go ahead with a quote for
1,179.50 and also if it wanted to apply to the castle ward Committee for a
contribution towards the cost. It was likely that the board would state,
Dinnington Parish Notice Board.
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RESOLVED That Cllr Porter would contact Joanne Brown to get a further
quote and email the information to members. At the next meeting a vote would
be taken on the best quote before contacting the ward committee. The Clerk
would let A Taegar know the current situation.
34.3

JP/BJ

1st Dinnington Scouts Cllr Porter did not take part in the debate or decision
with regard to this item.
An application for funding had been received to enable the group to attend
another adventure camp this year.
RESOLVED The PC did not consider the application appropriate at this time.
Castle Ward Councillors present suggested that an application be submitted for
grant funding via Adam Taegar it was possible that a ward level contribution
could be made.

35.

PLANNING

35.1

Neighbourhood Plan further information as requested had been sent to the

Assistant Director Planning Investment and Development. David Cross had
obtained a second quote for delivery of a workshop /initial scoping meeting and
a date would be arranged during August.

36.

UPDATES

36.1

Village Hall tiles and ridge tiles had now been replaced; the chimney had been
soffits and guttering. Results of a pre-refurbishment asbestos study was also
awaited.

36.2

Adopt a Planter / Northumbria in Bloom

The judges had visited the village and seemed enthusiastic that everyone,
including businesses and the school had made an effort.
It was reported that the local businesses had responded exceptionally well to
the PC request to join in with the competition and showcase the village.
Thanks went to Cllr Lower for sorting out a thistle problem and to Cllr
Thompson for strimming behind the stone planters.
It was hoped that the White Swan would get a special award for all of the
outstanding efforts of the owner.
The PC would be invited to the official ceremony on 15 th September in
Berwick.

36.3

Newsletter the latest edition of the newsletter had recently been hand
delivered by PC members.

36.4

Library the library was running smoothly.

36.5

Allotments the Northumbria in Bloom judges visited the allotments and

commented that they were very tidy; the allotments ahd always been an asset to
the village.

36.6

Website up to date.

37.

FINANCIAL MATTERS
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37.1

Cheques for approval / signing

100912 - 90.00 - R Gray/internal audit
100922 - 4000 Village hall grant
1000923 - 19 S Hood (Adopt a Planter)
100924 - 639.45 Clerks quarterly salary
100925 159.86 - HMRC tax on salary
100926 - 26.69 I Cant (Adopt a Planter)
100911 - 23.96 T Laidler (village plants)
100927 - 30.00 R Thompson (refund for flowers); the PC agreed to send
flowers to a resident celebrating her 100 th birthday.

37.2

Disposal of obsolete printer

The PC gave permission to the Clerk to dispose of the old obsolete printer and
to update the Asset register accordingly. (This decision was linked to Minute No
101 of 16th January 2013 which stated, the PC agreed to the purchase of a new
printer. A new printer had not yet been purchased.

38.

BJ

DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING - 7.00pm on Wednesday 16th September

2015

Meeting ended 8:25pm